The relationship between Emily and her grandfather was awkward. It had been a long time since he had played with a 3 year old, and Emily was wary of his large size and deep voice.

After Emily's mom taught her to play some simple card games, soon she was playing toddlers' games with her grandfather at every visit. In no time, they were the best of pals.

One of the great things about games for preschoolers is that they can bridge the distance between people of different ages. Even better, they can help a child expand her memory, matching abilities and logical thinking.

Strengthening these skills sets the stage for later learning. They are the basis of more complex processes like reading and math. If you teach a child some simple toddler games when she is small, she'll be learning some of the basic thinking skills she needs for later learning.

Many of the golden oldies you may have played as a child can train thinking skills. For example, the card game concentration helps develop memory. Concentration also requires the ability to see similarities and differences.

When your child learns to read, she needs to remember combinations of letters in words. She also needs to see differences and similarities in words and letters. These skills are part of some computer games, but card and board games offer more. They give your child practice with language and allow for special time together. 

It's Playtime

How do you teach your child to play?

When you look at the small body buzzing around your living room, it's hard to imagine your child sitting still long enough to look at a game, let alone play one. Here are some ideas:

  • Start one on one. Make game time special, just for the two of you. Although you may be eager for your 3-year-old to join in a game with the rest of the family, older children will probably be bored with the simplified version she needs just now.
  • Choose the right time. Is your little one already worn out from a long day of play? It might not be a good time to start a new activity that requires following rules and thinking skills. Play a simple game that doesn't require a lot of attention, like hide and seek or bean bag toss.
  • Make it age appropriate. Choose board and card games specifically designed for younger children. Good choices for beginners are games that focus on one main task, like matching. You might want to modify the instruction to get your child started on a new game. If a game requires several skills, such as remembering, matching and counting squares on a game board, break the tasks down. Start with just one task, like moving a game piece around on a game board to see who finishes first. Look at the game pieces or cards before you being to play to see if your child can figure out what goes together. Let your child put her cards on a flat surface if she has trouble holding them.
  • Add rules gradually. Once your child masters the basic format of a game, like counting squares to move a game piece around a game board, or matching colors or pictures, you can move on to something more challenging. For example, when I taught my daughter to play the card game, Crazy Eights, we started by learning how to play cards of the correct suit or number. Later, I gradually added more rules, like picking up two cards or missing a turn.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to have fun! If your child doesn't have all the skills she needs to play a game, come back to it later. She will gradually learn the skills she needs. In the meantime, play some simpler games and enjoy your time together.

Good games for preschoolers:

  • Matching games 
  • Simple memory games 
  • Bingo games 
  • Finding things games, such as, I spy with my little eye … 
  • Dominoes 
  • Card games such as, Go Fish, Concentration 

Andrea L. Mack, Ph.D. is a freelance writer.